University degree at 83 a belated achievement
It is a divergent path that has brought Paul Tucker to a cap and gown at age 83.
The Levin retiree this month graduated from Massey University with a Bachelor of Arts, completing a double-major in history and classical studies, cheered on by three generations of his family.
“We can talk on equal terms, now that I’m finally qualified,” he said in jest about his many grandchildren who were armed with degrees ahead of him.
His graduation was the fulfillment of an ambition that dated back to 1959, when the-then Horowhenua teenager had hoped to attend university and become a school teacher.
But a form master told him he didn’t have the “right qualities” for such a role, sowing his own doubts. “I thought, there’s not much point doing the uni stuff if I’m not going to meet the objective at the end of it, and in self reflection, I didn’t know if I’d be capable of doing it,“he said.
Tucker “cancelled out” and instead pursued livelihoods as a bank officer, a builder and eventual business owner, before “pretending to be a farmer” for 10 years of semi-retirement.
The belated call to higher learning followed the death of wife Shelagh in 2018, who had been ill for several years and cared for by Paul. “After she died, and it settled down, I thought I might as well do the uni thing now. I’ve got nothing else to do.”
He had always been interested in history, particularly ancient history, and was an avid Bible student.
“So studying the classics, I studied the events and people of the time before Christ and following that. “The later medieval history, those events tended to shape the world as we know it today, so that was of interest to me.”
Tucker’s first semester in 2020 was drastically affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, with courses converted to online learning.
What he saved in time and petrol from avoiding a daily commute from Levin, he lost in social experience.
He would have enjoyed being on campus a lot more, he said, though also doubted friendships would have come easily.
“I don’t think it would have worked. I don’t know that the younger students knew how to relate to this old guy, who they weren’t quite sure if I was a professor or what I was.
“And they had their life and all the rest of it. I was just an observer of their behaviour on the sideline really. So, in a sense, I missed out on that sort of camaraderie I’m sure many of them enjoy.”
So no toga parties then?
“No, none of that. I could probably show them how to party though,” he said with a chuckle.
The biggest challenge of his study was the prominence of technology, admitting he would much rather pick up a book for research than scour the internet.
He encouraged other seniors who were considering tertiary study to seek IT tuition first, if they needed it, as it had become such a key teaching and learning tool.
Though his own children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren didn’t anticipate his late attempt at student life, they were extremely supportive “and I think pretty delighted that I managed to achieve the goal that I did”.
“My father never got as far as going to high school, my mother was the only one who did – she qualified as a nurse. Education was a lot more difficult back then.
“I suppose it’s something we now take for granted. But it is quite valuable and we shouldn’t despise it or look down our noses at it. It’s something to cherish really.”
When asked about the profound impact of one discouraging form master, and how different his life may have otherwise been, Tucker was philosophical and heartfelt.
His voice quavered at the mention of Shelagh and any alternative trajectory that meant they would never have met.
“I’ve had a pretty good life, I have to say. My life would have been quite a bit different. In particular, I married a wonderful lady, who I would never have met.
“And I’ve got a great family as a consequence. I think sometimes those things are more important.”
Tucker was joined by more than 30 family members and friends for a celebration party in Palmerston North following his graduation on May 2.
A Massey University spokesperson said it had 23 students enrolled who were over the age of 75.